have said were the people of God never called Christians in any generation and ever since that time through all ages all that professed Christ and believed in him throughout the whole world were called by the name of Christians and the Name and Religion of Christians were honourable and greatly beloved of God for that people were the peculiar people a chosen generation as you may read 1 Pet. 2. 19. and whilst the life of Christ was manifest and the Spirit of Christ did lead them and teach them in all their wayes and practices of Religion and whilst I say they retained the power and life of that of which they had the name the power and presence of the Lord was amongst them and above all the people of the earth were they blessed and more then all people upon the earth besides had they the countenance of God shining amongst them and upon them and pure unity with God and one with another had they in his life whereby they were made a terror and a fear to all nations while they stood in the councel of God and were Christians in life and power and practice as well as in name and the Lord greatly increased them in number for as you may read through the Acts of the Apostles through all the world many believed in Christ and became followers of him and received the knowledge of him and became anointed people and received the name of Christians sometimes thousands at one Sermon were converted to the faith of Christ and became subject to his spirit and had his mark upon them and all such were called Christians and the Apostles went through many Nations and of the Iews and Greeks and of the Heathen and all other people some of each were converted from that way in which they had walked to follow Christ and they became Christians and here was the increase of Christianity and through many 〈◊〉 of the world they planted Churches and assemblies of Christians and as I said while they stood in the councel 〈◊〉 the Name and Religion was of him greatly beloved But now the Christians are Apostatized and degenerated from the spirit of Christ and from that which gave theâ—… the true Name of Christian and the name is retained onely and the life and power lost and now many have a name to live but are dead and that is departed from which gave the true interest and title in the name Hear this all ye Christians that life light and power of God which was amonâ—… the Apostles and Christians once you are departed from and have lost the sence and knowledge of and hath the naâ—…e and not the thing which was the reason and ground of the name wherefore all ye through the world that are called Christians look back to your original look unto the Apostleâ—… who were the first that were called Christians from whoâ—… you had the name and see how you are degenerated and 〈◊〉 len from the life that they were in and though you retain the name of Christians yet you are not followers of Christ noâ—… taught by his Spirit and none in the dayes of the Apostleâ—… were truly counted or called Christians but who followed the Spirit of Christ and were first converted to him and changed by his power from sin to righteousness and fromâ—… death to life and such as were so were truly called Christians But now all such as are called by that name and 〈◊〉 not followers of the Spirit of Christ nor converted to hiâ—… neither changed by his power from death to life and 〈◊〉 sin to righteousness such are in the degeneration from 〈◊〉 life of Christianity and hath a name without the life 〈◊〉 power thereof And now it remains to be shewed how and when the degeneration came upon the Christians and wherâ—…in they are apostatized and degenerated from that life and spirit and practice which was amongst the Apostles thâ—…t were first called Christians The Spirit of the Lord spoke through the Apostles and foretold of a falling away from the truth and from the true Christian life and Paul said Acts 20 29 30. said he Grievous â—…olves shall arise and enter in who would not spare the flock 〈◊〉 from among themselves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them and he also said 1 Tim. 4. 1. That some should depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and he also said that it should come to pass that people should become wicked departing from the truth having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof and such were led away with divers lusts and men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the faith and the Apostle â—…eter also foretold that there should false teachers arise among the Christians who should bring in damnable heresies and many Christians should follow their pernicious wayes by reason of which the way of truth should be evil spoken of And the Apostle Iohn 〈◊〉 that many false Prophets were gone out then and many Antichrists were then come in among the Christians now all these doth shew and declare of a degeneration and falling away of Christians from the life of Christianity and we see these Propheâ—…ies fulfilled and flocks of Christians are devoured from the life of Christ by devouring wolves which hath entred among them who hath led them into pernicious wayes and into damnable heresies whereby the name of Christianity is become reproachful among the Heathens that never were called Christians and many thousands are departed from the true faith from that faith which did purifie the hearts of the Saints and many of the Christians have given heed to seducing spirits and hath the form of godliness but denyes the power thereof and they are led of divers lusts and are become men of corrupt minds and are reprobate and without the true faith and the Apostles prophesied of the degeneration which we see fulfilled in these our dayes and even while some of the Apostles were yet living they saw the Christians Apostatizing and falling away and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Iohn Rev. 2. 3. to the Christian Churches in Asia who were already departing from the Christian life some of them was departed already from their first work and some of them were given to the doctrine of Bâ—…laam and to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing the Lord did hate and others of them were seduced by Jezabel and taught to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and others oâ—… them had a name to live but were dead and others of them were neither hot nor cold and the Lord said he would 〈◊〉 them out of his mouth Now here the Christians were falling away you may see and as before it had increased so now the true Christian life began to decrease and the glory thereof became darkned through all Asia And also Rev. 13. 11. 1. 16. Iohn saw one beast arise out of the Sea and another out of the earth
teacher but as that annointing teacheth all things and for this spirit and annointing all that feare God may waâ—… to receive it in this present age which Spirit brings into the same unity and life into the same worship and fellowship that was amongst Christians in the beginning before the Apostacy and this state may Christians be restored to and for this state all that fear God and love him are to wait for this shall come to passe in the world And as concerning the Ministry I know and do believe it may be and is received again as the Apostles and Christian Ministers first received it to wit by the eternall spirit and gift thereof through the revelation of Christ Jesus in them and such may and doth preach the Gospel freely as they doe receive it freely and without naturall learning and languages For by that can none be made Ministers of Christ nor by any thing without the gift of the holy Spirit and Christs Ministry shall again be received thereby this I believe and all this Ministry made and sent forth by naturall learning and without the gift of the holy Spirit the Lord will confound it in this Age for this is come up since the Apostles dayes to make Ministers by naturall learning and it stands in the apostacy from the life and spirit of Christ and its call and work and maintenance savours not of the kingdome of Christ and the Lord will bring it downe and the gift of his Ministry will he restore by his Spirit and this is and shall come to passe and it may be waited for in this present age and the Lord will restore his Ministry as in the beginning and his work shall be glorious for many there are is and shall be converted to God and brought out of the degeneration and to that shall people come which all Christendom hath been apostatized from and shall receive the same spirit and the same annointing which was amongst the Christian Churches and life and immortality shall again be brought to light through the Gospel which hath been hid for ages while darkness hath been over the minds of people and I say and testifie before all the world that Christianity shall be restored to its former state Life shall spring forth and Truth shall be increased and faith shall waxe strong even the same 〈◊〉 that the Apostles had which gave them victory over all the world which shall again give people the same victory and this shall be known in the earth For the marriage of the Lamb shall come and all his people shall be joyned unto him and they shall be one way and one worship and one teacher and every man shall fit under Christs Vine and none shall make afraid Yea and more then a Vine shall he be known â—…d more then a door and more then a Shepheard shall he be known to be to his people and greater then a rock shall he be witnessed to be and more then a Teacher in the wildernesse If any man have eares to hear let him hear more and greater is he becoming to his people then is lawfull yet to utter Eye hath not seen nor it hath not entred into the heart of man but it is revealed to us by his Spirit The joyfull day is approaching the Lambs wife is making her selfe ready the wedding Garment is putting on and all that which is polluted is to be done away and blessed is he that cometh to the marriage of the Lamb that he may become one spirit with the Creator here is glory and rejoycing for ever when this is known That the wife hath not power over her owne body but the husband nor the husband hath power over his owne body but the wife Where this is known Death is swallowed up of Life and 〈◊〉 is overcome of righteousnesse and the inheritance of life eternall comes to be possessed and Death and Hell is cast into the lake and he which hath deceived can deceive no more and blessed is the eye that seeth this and the heart that understands Wherefore all ye Christians upon earth awake awake and put away your whoredoms cast off your idolatries and strip you and make you clean of all your adultries drink no longer of the cup of fornications nor eat no longer of the abominable flesh nor wear no longer your garments of unrighteousness but strip ye strip ye make ye bare all your old garments must be put off before you can appear before the Lord A great work will the Lord work amongst you he will â—…ake and overthrow all your Altars Images and Idols which you have set up and worshipped the Lord hath uttered 〈◊〉 voice the beast that hath many heads and many horns 〈◊〉 tremble 〈◊〉 one head and one horn onely shall be exalted and the Government shall be set up of whose increase there shall be no end and people shall be brought into that and they shall go forth no more for who comes to this time is no longer and the Kingdom and Government is delivered to the Father and he is become all in all And all that ever comes to know these things must first come to the light of the Lamb in them with which every man is lightned that cometh into the world and all that ever knows these things must first be brought to the principle of God in them which they have trangressed against and all that owns the light of Christ and walks in it shall come to know these things which to know and be in them is eternal life Therefore all ye Christians come to the light which Christ hath lightned you withal and that will let you see the Government of Satan and of sin and death which hath been ruling in you and the light will teach you to war against it till it be subdued the light will discover unto you that nature in which the kingdom of Satan bears rule it will 〈◊〉 you see the Devil who is the Prince of darkness who is the adversary of God who is out of the truth and he has draâ—… all people out of the truth but if you love the light of Christ in you it will teach you to war against him and against all that that 's out of the truth for all that is of Satans kingdom that is out of the truth and must be destroyed by the coming of the kingdom of Christ whose coming is in the light which Christ hath lightned every man withal who comes to destroy the Devil and his kingdom and all his works So to the light must all minds be turned which will reveal the kingdom of the man of sin and consume 〈◊〉 the appearance of Christ is light and Christ is the light of Israel which is as a fire to consume all fruitless trees which cumbers the ground which the Lord will consume by the brightness of his coming And now is the man of sin revealed even in the heart of Christians so called and he hath long shewed himself to be God but now the Lord will bring him down for Antichrist has ruled for many ages and the Lord of life has been crucified in spiritual Sodom but Sodom shall be consumed by fire and the Lord will avenge himself of all his enemies and all people and Nations shall know there is a God who executes justice and true judgement who is a God near at hand to reward his people with everlasting life and to give unto his enemies judgement and condemnation THE END
which set up a Kingdom over the whole world and caused all people upon earth to worship the beast the beast hath been great in his power and he hath ruled over the world in great dominion and all that would not worship him he hath had power to kill and hath killed them so that the true Christian life and Religion as the Apostles received it and practised it hath been extinguished for many generations and people hath had the form of godlinesse but denied the power and lived under the name and profession of Christianity but hath been without the life and this is to be considered of and diligently searched into by all you that go under the name of Christians through all the world for unto you onely I direct my words And now it remains to be shewed what the state of Christians are at this day and wherein particularly they are Apostatized and degenerated from the true life and practize of the postles who were the fâ—…rst Christians for wherin the Christians now are contrary and not agreeable to the Apostles in Faith in practice in Worship in Ministry and in the enterance into Christianity and in any other thing whatsoever I say wherein they are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians of old to wit the Apostles therein are they degenerated and fallen from the true life of Christianity and this shall be the Rule of judgement to try all you that are called Christians upon the face of the earth wherefore awake and come forth to judgement for the measuring rod is laid upon you all whereby you shall be truly measured and compared with them that were the first Christians upon earth and the Heathens shall see your nakedness and your shame and hiss at you when they behold how wofully you are fallen from that 〈◊〉 in the purity thereof of which you do professe the words 〈◊〉 shall not they rise up in judgement against you who never had the name of Christians who are not fallen nor degressed from what they have profest in any measure comparable to you who now retaineth onely the name of Christian 〈◊〉 are departed from the life of Christ First concerning the entrance into Christianity and the way and means whereby people are now made Christians 〈◊〉 receives that name In this will your fall and degeneration appear For the Apostles and first Christians upon Earth before they were Christians or were called so they were first converted and changed and translated from death to life as you 〈◊〉 read 1 Iohn 3. 14. and Col. 1. 13. and they first received Christ and became followers of him and received his spirit to teach them and to guide them For the Apostle said If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. to wit no Christians and the Apostle said as many as were the sons of God were led by the spirit of God and also it was promised by Christ to all that were his the Comforter should come the spirit of truth and he should lead them into all truth which promise all that were Christians did receive and they were led into all truth by the teachings of the spirit of Christ which dwelt in them for all that were sons God sent the spirit of his Son into their hearts which spirit sanctified them through the obedience thereof Now these were Christians and were truly so called For they had the mark of Christ and his Image upon them and he dwelt in their hearts by Faith Ephes. 3. 17. These I say were truly called Christians and none but such at that day of their Original were called Christians or had Fellowship in the Christian life nor were any looked upon by the Apostles to be Christians but by them that were such But look back all ye Christians upon earth and see your â—…all and wherein you are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians in their first and pure estate I say look back to your Original and see how you are Apostatized from them in your entrance into your profession of Christianity foâ—… though you have the name of Christians yet you were noâ—… made so nor received that name by being first converted and changed and translated from death to life and 〈◊〉 being the children of disobedience to be the children of God through the work and operation of the spirit of God in you for hereof are thousands and ten thousands of Christians now wholly ignorant and altogether without the feeling of the spirit of God to change them to convert them and to translate them but are accounted Christians bâ—… tradition or natural education and because of being sprinkled with a little water upon the face being Infantâ—… or by a bare confession and profession of the name of Christ in words and professing of a bare belief in the Scriptures by this way and means were you made and received you the name of Christians without any real change from darkness to light and from Satan to God as I have said Now here appeares to be a woful degeneration in the very entrance of the thing and this is not agreeable but rather contrary unto that way of Christianity wherein the Christians in their beginning were so made and called for then none were Christians or so called but who through the preaching of the Gospel were first converted changed and renewed as I have â—…aid but now in these nations all are called Christians that are sprinkled upon their faces with water by a teacher when they are infants or that doth but professe Christ in words though they are not guided particulerly by his spirit neither hath received Christ to dwell in them and to be King over them and here again appeares a woâ—…ul Apostacy for none in the beginning of Christianity in the world were made Christians or so called but who received Christ and in whom he dwelt and was in them as you may read 2 Cor. 13. 5. and who were followers of him and had his spirit in them the comforter to teach them and to lead them into all truth but now thousands upon thousands who hath the name of Christians have not received Christ to dwell in 〈◊〉 nor to rule them neither is he manifest in them by his spirit to teach them and they are not led into all truth but lives in 〈◊〉 and unrighteousness and are not followers of Christ 〈◊〉 followes their own hearts desires and their own hearts lusts and are condemned in their own consciences and hath not received the comforter the holy Spirit to be their guide and leader out of all unrighteousness and here appears a woful degeneration and that you Christians through all the world are revolted and gone backward from Christianity as it was in its Original a lamentation may be taken up because of this woful fall into which you Christians are fallen consider of your own state and return and repent Again the Christians were begotten of God and born